AN anti-whaling group's "stealth" speedboat was sliced in two by a Japanese ship yesterday.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said its €1.1m craft was destroyed when it collided with the Shonan Maru 2.

The 78ft-powerboat, Ady Gil, had intercepted the Japanese whaling fleet near Antarctica's Commonwealth Bay.

The society accused the Japanese of deliberately destroying the vessel.

Last night, the group attempted to salvage the boat but said it was likely to sink. All six crew members were rescued.

Paul Watson, captain of Sea Shepherd, said: "If they think our remaining two ships will retreat in the face of their extremism, they will be mistaken. We now have a real whale war on our hands and we have no intention of retreating."